I appear to be in some kind of health mayhem currently. I have a number of health issues RA, bronchiectasis, leaking heart valve , macular degeneration all of which require attention. Recently I have been found to have a basal cell carcinoma in the corner of my eye which has turned into a nightmare. I am single handedly taking up the entire NHS budget for the year! (Sorry!) Surgery is planned but this has required visits to an oncologist, High Risk anaesthetist , echocardiogram and Maxillofacial surgeon. As I find the whole thing pretty scary due to the risks and my general decrepitude I may actually refuse surgery. This has all held up RA treatment which is making me very disabled and doing huge damage.. I hope to survive but it’s all pretty depressing.
love to all fellow sufferers.
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Shonkie
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Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry to hear this - you really are going through it aren't you. I wish you all the best with your treatments and hope all will eventually be well. xx
I've got RA and Brochi but not the carcinoma. If this helps my husband has heart issues and went to East Grinstead for his to be carcinoma to be removed. It was near his right eye and done under local. It looked like I'd really thumped him, he had a black eye, swollen cheek and forehead etc. But that was over a year ago and he did tell people I'd hit him - hard! now you can't see the scar and they've done 2 more above his ear and one on his leg. So get the surgery and and look forward. He was told these things can be stable for years then explode and we only see a small bit of it so get it gone...... xx
Thank you for your help. I have to have a general anaesthetic for my bcc which is tricky for the heart and lungs, I am considering very carefully and getting a lot of advice before deciding what to do.
It's all you can do and I had a general 3 weeks ago, without any heart issues so it was straightforward but it still it took several days to get over. I had no choice, so in a way it was easier. I feel for you and do stress my husband has no scar that can be seen without a really good look. It's hidden in a natural skin fold, so clever these days but still needs thinking about.
Goodness you’ve got a lot of horrible things hapoening to you haven’t you! I think I would definitely get the basal cell operated on though, as ML says you don’t know what it’s likely to do. It’s awful how things change as you get older and your ‘social’ life turns into a round of hospital appointments. Not something you think will happen to you when you are young and fit. Good luck with it all, just consider yourself lucky to be getting use of the NHS budget, you deserve it as much as anyone else.
Blimey you certainly have a laundry list of health issues haven't you? I understand that yet another issue to deal with must feel overwhelming but it does need removing. Himself had a basal cell carcinoma near the corner of his eye removed a few years ago. It was a small thing to look at but he has been left with a quite a scar, now fading nicely. The plastic surgeon said that these things are like icebergs, much bigger than they look on the surface. Please make good use of the NHS. Without us, they'd have nothing to do
Thank you for your helpful reply. I confess to finding this decision very difficult. It will involve two specialist surgeons and a specialist anaesthetist. The biopsy I had showed it was more extensive than thought and the closeness to my eye, eyelid and tear duct . I am also influenced by possible scarring. I am considering carefully and listening to a lot of medical options. Umm!
So sorry to hear that. Hope they can fix your issues one after another and you can go back to better health. Sending all the good wishes and positive spirit in your way. 🍀
I wish you all the very best. If it is any consolation I also have so many consultants now it is hard to keep up. Every time I get Covid I seem to pick up another ailment. I am now on steroids for life with my latest, Addisons disease. I don’t know about you but I wish that my consultants would speak to each other as they are all only dealing with their particular issue, The last straw from my last appointment with the Rheumy was “well obviously the severe asthma, bronchiectasis and recurrent chest infections are the most important thing at the moment.” So the fact that I am limping around with a damaged Achilles and can barely walk anyway is of no consequence?
Do what you feel is right for you. I am blessed with a fabulous GP who is extremely helpful talking things through . My attitude is I must keep doing the things I enjoy until I can’t. I was at a concert the other day and the man next to me was paralysed in a wheelchair and could only rock his body a bit to the music. There was a blind man the other side. I said to my husband after. Keep bringing me to concerts, even if I am on oxygen. I refuse to give up doing things that I enjoy. You do you. X
I do not have any advise but I wanted you to know that I am wishing you the very best. These specialist collectively have thousands of hours of training so if you do decide to make use of them, you will be getting the best treatment available. You deserve it!
Wow! This is so overwhelming for you…no wonder you want to take a moment to breathe and process everything that’s going on.
I also have a multitude of complications sitting on my shoulders threatening to do their worst but my advice is ……. take the time you need to make an informed decision on how you want to proceed (your family or friends can help with this as well your consultants ) it’s not a weakness to be scared it just highlights you are vulnerable which is totally understandable and means you need a little more support.
I am sending my warmest wishes to you and a huge (but gentle) hug.
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Does AS make you feel alone.. 
My brother thinks I make it up!
something to cheer you up
Off topic just to make you smile 
How do you deal with flare ups/ the up down nature of this disease?
